30 Years of Top-Down Motoring with the Mini Convertible

Mini’s new Seaside is now available to order with first deliveries in time for top-down summer motoring in this cheerful incarnation of a British motoring icon!

TUSCANY? THE SEYCHELLES? SKEGNESS?

Where are you planning to enjoy the sun this year? Chances are, as you read this, temperatures will still be on the chilly side, hardly a climate for top-down motoring. But the Great British summer will be along soon, so assuming you’re going to be spending at least part of the sunnier months in the UK, now is the time to start considering an open-top car in which to waft along the UK’s back roads and motorways.

Happily, Mini is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its first convertible model, – released in 1993 – with this, the cheerfullynamed Seaside Edition of its existing Mini convertible. It’s priced at £34,500, which we think is pretty steep, but Mini remains a premium-badge in the small car world, and it’s still backed with meticulous BMW mechanicals, build quality and reliability. It’s also equipped with a 2.0 four-cylinder engine, turbocharged to 178hp to reach 60mph in 6.9 seconds, making it rather nippy to say the least.

With first deliveries this month, the Seaside Edition features double decorative stripes in white running across the side doors to the rear of the vehicle, while a unique 30 motif graphic on the front apron and wheel caps refer to the model’s anniversary. The car also comes with Mini’s Premium Plus packaged option pack which provides automatic air conditioning, reverse parking control, various driving modes, wireless smartphone charging and an upgraded stereo. Other thoughts? Well, it’s fun, attractive, but also quite expensive for what remains a very small car. Though it’s likely the Mini Convertible will be a more useful second car than your daily driver, and given that its uniqueness can only be fully realised in the summer, when the roof’s down, we’d question its value against the entry-level Mini convertible which is £9,000 cheaper.

Still, with all the kit, performance and style you need, it’s likely to be a ‘with the heart’ purchase, and if you’re yearning for a bit of motoring fun, the only thing you need really need this summer, apart from the Mini Convertible, is a little bit of sunshine! n

The Details

Mini Convertible Seaside Edition

Price: £34,500 (On sale now).

Powertrain: 2.0 four-cylinder engine, 178hp, automatic gearbox.

Performance: Top speed 143mph, 0-60mph 6.9 secs. Fuel consumption WLTP 47.9mpg.

Equipment: 18” wheels, Caribbean Aqua paint, leather trim in carbon black, electrically folding roof, navigation, heated steering wheel, heated seats, air conditioning, reverse parking sensors, wireless smartphone charging. n